Kathy Sullivan

Kathy Lynn (Boyce) Sullivan, age 67, of Humeston, Iowa, daughter of Ralph Clifford and Dorothy Marie (Anderson) Boyce was born January 19, 1953, in Leon, Iowa. She was the youngest of three children. Kathy died January 19th, 2020, at her home.

Kathy grew up in the Humeston, Iowa area. She was a member of Eden Baptist Church in rural Derby, Iowa and later attended First Baptist Church in Humeston. Kathy graduated in 1971, from Mormon Trail High School and had many fond memories of cheerleading and pep club. On September 9, 1972, she married her high school sweetheart, Jerry Allen Sullivan, at Eden Baptist Church. Two children, Kerry Alissa and Matthew Darin, blessed this union.

Kathy loved people and always had a smile, enthusiastic greeting and kind word for everyone. She enjoyed working at Surbaugh’s, the LeRoy Store, and Hutchinson’s. Kathy and Jerry bought their first farm in 1976, and she enjoyed being a homemaker, mother, and working with Jerry on the farm. She began her career with SCICAP Headstart in 1986, as a preschool teacher and felt very blessed to work with many students and families over the years. She loved watching “her” preschoolers grow, and was always very proud of each student. Kathy later transitioned to an Area Manager role and served in that capacity with SCICAP until she retired in 2013.

Kathy was gifted and creative in many endeavors. She was a member of Yorel Study Club and received numerous awards for her photography and creative writing. Kathy was an avid Iowa Hawkeyes fan and also enjoyed traveling, reading, cooking, and genealogy.

Kathy’s family was her greatest joy. She loved traveling with Kerry, hosting family dinners, and spending time with her grandchildren. She especially loved reading to them and was thrilled when recently they began reading to her!

Preceding her in death were her husband, Jerry Sullivan, her father and mother, Ralph and Dorothy Boyce and father-in-law, Allen Sullivan.

Surviving her are her children, daughter Kerry Sullivan of Osceola, Iowa and son Matthew Sullivan (Jenna) and children Kylor, Allen, and Cora of Oskaloosa, Iowa; mother-in-law JoAnn Sullivan of Osceola; brother Jim Boyce (Leola) of Osceola; sister Carol Shipley of Humeston; her many nieces and nephews, cousins, other relatives, many friends; and her beloved dog Hank and cat Cheeto.

Kathy’s kind heart and sweet nature will be missed by those who knew her.

Funeral services will be held at the Slade – O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, Iowa at 11 a.m. Monday, January 27, 2020, with Pastor Ron Barker officiating. Burial will be in the Garden Grove Cemetery, Garden Grove, Iowa.

Memorials may be given to the Susie B. Tuttle Dialysis Unit in Corydon, Iowa in Kathy’s memory.